CELLULAR JAIL

A Tribute To The Martyrs Of India's FreedomCellular
Jail, located at Port Blair, stood mute
witness to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who were
incarcerated in this Jail. The Jail, completed in the year 1906 acquired
the name, 'Cellular' because it is entirely made up of individual cells
for the solitary confinement of the prisoners. It originally was a seven
pronged, puce-coloured building with central tower acting as its fulcrum
and a massive structure comprising honeycomb like corridors. The building
was subsequently damaged and presently three out of the seven prongs are
intact. The Jail, now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people,
has been declared a National Memorial.

The penal settlement established in Andamans by the
British after the First War of Independence in 1857 was the beginning of
the agonising story of freedom fighters in the massive and awful jails at
Viper Island followed by the
Cellular Jail. The patriots who raised their voice against the British Raj
were sent to this Jail, where many perished. Netaji Subash Chandra Bose
hoisted the tri-colour flag to proclaim Independence on 30th December 1943
at a place near this Jail.

This three-storeyed prison, constructed by Britishers in 1906, is a
pilgrimage destination for freedom fighters. This colossal edifice has
mutely witnessed the most treacherous of inhumane atrocities borne by the
convicts, who were mostly freedom fighters. Now dedicated to the nation as
a National Memorial.

Son-Et-Lumiere The saga of the heroic freedom fighters in Kala Pani is brought alive in
a moving sound and light show "Son-et-Lumiere", shown daily
inside the jail compound at 6.00 pm (Hindi) and 7.15 pm (English). There
is also a Museum, an Art gallery, and a Photo gallery, which are open on
all days except Monday from 9.00 AM to 12 Noon and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM.